PBIS at DJJ: Aaron Cohn RYDC Holiday Celebration Banquet

January 9, 2017

Photos and information from Statewide PBIS Coordinator Janette Nihles

Recently, the Aaron Cohn Regional Youth Detention Center (Aaron Cohn RYDC) in Muscogee County held a Holiday Celebration Banquet to give recognition to the facility's youth and to celebrate their hard work and dedication. As a commendation for top students being faithful in their studies and setting a good example for their peers, the Holiday Celebration Banquet also featured the Student Recognition Awards for specific high acheivers. Top Aaron Cohn RYDC volunteer Sam Khalil gave the keynote speech for the celebration.

Events such as the Holiday Celebration Banquet are an important part of the PBIS program at DJJ. PBIS is an evidence-based, data-driven framework proven to reduce disciplinary incidents, increase a school’s sense of safety and support improved academic outcomes. More than 19,000 U.S. schools are implementing PBIS and saving countless instructional hours otherwise lost to discipline. The premise of PBIS is that continual teaching, combined with acknowledgement or feedback of positive student behavior will reduce unnecessary discipline and promote a climate of greater productivity, safety and learning. PBIS schools apply a multi-tiered approach to prevention, using disciplinary data and principles of behavioral analysis to develop school-wide, targeted and individualized interventions and supports to improve school climate for all students.